Novel picture frame

ABSTRACT

An improved picture frame of solid construction having a plurality of grooves therein which receive a plurality of inserts which are placed within the grooves over the edges of a flexible material so that the flexible material is stretched and secured to the picture frame.

United States Patent Inventor Henry P. Parker 700 W. Bayview Ave., Biloxi. Miss. 39530 Appl. No. 852,213 Filed Aug. 22. 1969 Patented July 27, 1971 PICTURE FRAME 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 40/156 Int. Cl G09f 1/12 Field of Search 40/152, 10,

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 112,937 4/1929 Austria 40/156 37 1/1894 Great Britain 40/156 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman ABSTRACT: An improved picture frame of solid construction having a plurality of grooves therein which receive a plurality of inserts which are placed within the grooves over the edges of a flexible material so that the flexible material is stretched and secured to the picture frame.

PATENTED JULZ'! l9?! INVENTOR .EAIFYPB9F/QEW Ma /WA ATTORNEYS PICTURE FRAME The present invention relates to picture frames which hold and keep canvas. fabrics. or other materials in a secured stretched state.

In particular. the present picture frame is a solid panel or body having its outer sides or edges constructed to resemble a conventional picture frame. The canvas or material on which the picture or print is to be placedis stretched on the solid body of the frame by wedging or forcing inserts against the canvas or material into grooves located in the body of the frame. The grooves preferably run substantially parallel to the sides or circumference of the picture frame panel or body so that the canvas or material is uniformly stretched over the frame body and will not have to be cut or trimmed as is the case in conventional picture frames.

The use of a solid panel or body allows the present invention to be used not only as a picture frame but also as a drawing board and support, thus savingan artist substantial amounts of time as many different pictures or prints can be worked on without mounting and remounting each individual painting or print. Another benefit of the present invention is that the painting or print can be easily placed on the easel or hung on the wall.

The present invention creates additional benefits in that pictures or prints which are made on the present frame can be readily stored. Presently, pictures, and in particular oil paintings and water colors, are stored by rolling up the canvas which can damage the picture at the time it is packaged or later when it is carried around in a container. The use of the present invention allows a picture to be started or finished on a single frame and placed in a safe packaged container.

An additional feature of the present invention is that it enables a picture to be easily cleaned. As is well known, pictures collect dust and various residuals from the air, and at times, have to be cleaned and restored. The present invention lends itself towards easy cleaning or restoring without injuring the canvas.

The fact that the present frame has a flat construction lends itself to being placed or secured against a wall so that it will not tilt forward causing possible aesthetics problems. The flat placement against the wall also keeps dust and other debris from collecting on the back of the picture avoiding the necessity of sealing the back of the frame, thereby causing the picture to be better protected as well as being more sanitary.

Due to the low cost of synthetic materials and natural processed materials the improved picture frame can be mass produced so that it can be used by anyone thus promoting a greater interest in art and related subjects, as the frame can be displayed around an individual's print or picture.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specifications in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 discloses a cutaway plan view of the improved picture frame showing its component parts before material is stretched to the frame;

FIG. 2 discloses an enlarged cross section taken from line 2'-2' of FIG. 1 showing inserts placed within the grooves;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the improved picture frame; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the improved picture frame.

As shown by FIG. I, the improved picture frame comprises a solid body 2 having its edges 4 cut, molded. or prepared to resemble conventional picture frames. The solid body 2 is preferably of a flat construction with a plurality of grooves 6 cut into its surface. It is of course apparent that any number of grooves can be cut or that a continuous groove can be cut to accommodate any shape of picture or print. It is also apparent that any desired configuration or pattern of grooves or of a continuous groove can be cut in the surface of body 2. The grooves 6 can be of any predetermined width and depth as long as the insert or inserts 8.and material 10 can be received and secured within the groove. It is noted that most frames of the present invention would be constructed in the traditional manner in that the grooves would run substantially parallel to the edge or edges of the frame. The inserts 8 used with the improved picture frame are constructed so that they engage the grooves and snugly fit within the grooves when cooperating with material or canvas 10. The inserts 8 can be of any desired width or cross section as long as they can be forced or placed within the grooves 6 to hold and secure the material or canvas I0 to the frame. Preferably, the inserts 8 have some sort of elasticity in a transverse direction so that they or it can be easily engaged within the groove or grooves. As by way of example, but not limiting the inserts to such, the inserts can have a circular or rectangular cross section.

As is shown in FIG. 2, canvas or material 10 is spread over a portion of the body 2 so that it extends past the outer edge of groove or grooves 6. Inserts 8 are then placed over the top of the canvas or material 10 in position so that they can be forced down into the grooves 6 carrying the canvas or material 10 with them, thus stretching the canvas or material and securing it to the surface of the frame body. The inserts 8 are then forced down into the groove so that the canvas or material 10 is stretched to its fullest extent. It is of course noted that a single insert can be used, in a continuous groove, as shown by FIG. 4, to secure and stretch the material. It should be noted that canvas, linen, velvet, burlap or any other suitable material can be used and that the outer surface of the material which is exposed can be painted or printed by applying the paint, ink or other material directly to the outer surface of the canvas or material. The inner surface of the material is supported and is in contact with the outer surface of the solid body of the frame. When the canvas or material is spread over the frame and stretched by driving or forcing the inserts 8 over the material 10 and into the grooves 6, the material is evenly stretched on the frame providing a uniform surface for printing or painting. The complete picture frame with stretched canvas or material is shown in FIG. 3. If desired, each individual insert 8 can be made of decorative material or have a decorative design to further provide a border or decorative mode to the frame. Any suitable means can be used to support or secure the picture frame in a desired position.

The frame can be made of plywood, wood board, compressed board of any material such as for example wood shavings, or of any type of plastics, fibers or other suitable material.

As shown in FIG. 4, various shaped frames can be utilized as for example, the circular or substantially circular frame which is shown in the above mentioned FIG. However, a frame of polyangular or circular shape could readily be adapted for use. It should be noted that the insert 12 used on the round picture frame 14, or for that matter any insert used on picture frames of any shape can be constructed of plastic, hard rubber, cane or any suitable flexible, elastic or preformed material which will fit in the particular groove configuration.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with various embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

I. An improved picture frame comprising a solid flat body having a top and a bottom surface, said solid body being provided with a plurality of grooves in said top surface, a flexible material contacting the top surface of said solid body, a plurality of inserts placed in cooperation with said flexible material to engage the inner surface of said grooves stretching and securing said flexible material on the top surface of said solid body.

2. An improved picture frame as. described in claim 1 wherein said solid body is provided with a continuous groove and at least one insert.

6. An improved picture frame as described in claim 1 wherein said solid body has a substantially circular shape.

7. An improved picture frame as described in claim 1 wherein said solid body hasapolyangularshape. i

'8. An improved picture frame as described in claim 1 wherein said solid flat body has edges constructed to resemble a conventional frame. 

1. An improved picture frame comprising a solid flat body having a top and a bottom surface, said solid body being provided with a plurality of grooves in said top surface, a flexible material contacting the top surface of said solid body, a plurality of inserts placed in cooperation with said flexible material to engage the inner surface of said grooves stretching and securing said flexible material on the top surface of said solid body.
 2. An improved picture frame as described in claim 1 wherein said solid body is provided with a continuous groove and at least one insert.
 3. An improved picture frame as described in claim 2 wherein said insert has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said groove.
 4. An improved picture frame as described in claim 2 wherein said insert has a cross section of the same shape as the cross section of said groove.
 5. An improved picture frame as described in claim 1 wherein said inserts are of an elastic material.
 6. An improved picture frame as described in claim 1 wherein said solid body has a substantially circular shape.
 7. An improved picture frame as described in claim 1 wherein said solid body has a polyangular shape.
 8. An improved picture frame as described in claim 1 wherein said solid flat body has edges constructed to resemble a conventional frame. 